Fabrics coupling machine

ABSTRACT

A machine for thermic coupling a fabrics in general and collars in particular with a reinforcing interlining, provided with a layer of adhesive means, characterized in that it includes: two belts conveyors, one upper and one lower belt conveyor; cooperating with each other, between which the fabrics to be coupled with each other are held in pressed condition and supplied to the various phases of treatment, a heating means consisting of an infra-red ray source and a warm air flow, two pressure rollers over which move the aforesaid belt conveyors, the speed of which may be varied, disposed in a lowered position relative to the pressure rollers and a cooling means consisting of a fan disposed immediately after the pressure rollers and feeding in cool air to cool the obtained coupled fabric.

June 12, 1973 G. BIANCHINI 3 mamas COUPLING MACHINE Filed May 18, 1971 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

G/aciomo Lsl'anchmr BY K Dal/Com Km June 12, 1973 G. BIANCHINI 3,738,897

FABRICS COUPLING MACHINE Filed May 18, 197] 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

By G/QC omo Bianchinf Kama/ BALM June 12, 1973 G. BIANCHINI FABRICS COUPLING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 18, 197] INVENTOR. V: Giacomo Eianchm/ KW, DW

United States Patent 3,738,897 FABRICS COUPLING MACHINE Giacomo Bianchini, Viale Alfori 19, Milan, Italy Filed May 18, 1971, Ser. No. 144,593 Claims priority, application Italy, May 22, 1970, 24,968/ 70 Int. Cl. B321) 31/04 U.S. Cl. 156-48 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for thermic coupling a fabrics in general and collars in particular with a reinforcing interlining, provided with a layer of adhesive means, characterized in that it includes: two belts conveyors, one upper and one lower belt conveyor, cooperating with each other, between which the fabrics to be coupled with each other are held in pressed condition and supplied to the various phases of treatment, a heating means consisting of an infra-red ray source and a warm air flow, two pressure rollers over which move the aforesaid belt conveyors, two driving rollers for the aforementioned belt conveyors, the speed of which may be varied, disposed in a lowered position relative to the pressure rollers and a cooling means consisting of a fan disposed immediately after the pressure rollers and feeding in cool air to cool the obtained coupled fabric.

This invention relates to a fabrics coupling machine, and more particularly to a machine adapted to carry out continuously the coupling of a fabric with a reinforcing interlining, and preferably a collar with its reinforcing interlining.

As it is well known, in the manufacture of collars for shirts and apparel items in general, it is necessary to stably associate with the basic fabric a stiffening and reinforcing interlining, preferably consisting of hempen cloth or similar cloth.

Said association had been obtained heretofore by using machines provided with heated metal plates between which the fabric and the reinforcing hempen cloth were pressed, after the latter had been coated with thermomeltable resins.

Said heat treatment between heated plates results in several inconveniences. For example, the resulting coupled fabric frequently has an excessive rigidity due to the polymerization of the resin layer applied to the reinforcing fabric or cloth because of the fact that the operation takes place at excessively high temperatures. On the other hand, by using lower temperatures in the aforementioned traditional machines improperly coupled fabrics resulted, which might become easily detached from each other.

Such inconveniences cannot be practically removed, since the traditional machines do not ensure an accurate control of the heated metal plates.

Further, the temperature is not uniformly distributed over the various portions of the metal plate surface.

Another inconvenience encountered with the traditional machines stems from the fact that therein the metal plates are subjected to distortion due to the high temperatures and pressures to which they are subjected during the heat treatment.

For such reason, it is scarcely possible by the use of said machines to exert on the fabrics to be coupled with each other sufficiently high pressures.

On the other hand, it is not practically possible to adjust the values of the compression which each fabric or collar to be coupled should be subjected to.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a fabrics coupling machine not showing the above-outlined inconveniences. More specifically, it is another object of this invention to provide a fabrics coupling machine, which will allow accurate adjustment in order to provide uniform values of pressure and temperature which the collars or the fabrics in general should be subjected to in relation to their specific characteristics. These and further objects, which will become apparent from the following detailed description, are attained by using a fabrics coupling machine, essentially including: two belt conveyors cooperating with each other between which the fabrics to be coupled with each other are being held in pressed condition and supplied to the various treatment phases, a heating means consisting of an infra-red ray source and a Warm air flow, two pressure rollers over which move the aforesaid belt conveyors, two driving rollers for the aforementioned belt conveyors and a cooling means. The machine according to the present inven tion ensures, therefore, the coupling of the fabrics and particularly of the collars, in a continuous manner, the fabrics themselves being tightened between two endless belts the moving speed of which may be suitably varied within a wide interval.

Furthermore, the heat feed to the fabrics to be treated and the adhesive layer therebetween is ensured by the simultaneous action of the infra-red rays and warm air striking from below the reinforcing cloth. The abovementioned warm air outflowing from the ends of a set pipes immersed sufiiciently into a heating fluid.

Finally, the machine according to the present invention ensures that the coupled fabrics, after the heat treatment, be subjected to a compression action by means of one or more pairs of intermediate rollers the pressure of which may be continuously varied and adjusted.

It is, therefore, manifest that in the machine according to this invention all physical magnitudes used in the coupling of a fabric with a reinforcing interlining, are prefectly controlled and adjusted independently of each other.

It is thus possible in relation to the fabric types to be treated to consistently vary the driving speed and/or the heating temperature and/or the compression value with a view to obtaining better coupling between the fabrics themselves.

These and further characteristic features of an operational and constructional nature of the machine according to this invention will better be understood from the following detailed description in conjunction with the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view from the front of the instant machine;

FIG. 2 shows a perspective view from the rear of the machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 represents a front perspective View of the pressure adjusting device for the pressure rollers of the instant machine, and I FIGS. 4a and 4b are respectively somewhat schematical sectional views of the vertical and horizontal section of the structure for the heating and warm air supply to the fabrics to be treated as used in the machine according to the preceding figures. Referring now to the numeral symbols of the various figures on the accompanying drawings, the fabrics coupling machine in accordance with the present invention is provided wtih a bedplate 1 in which there are Worked suitably arranged and dimensioned seats, in which are accommodated by interposition of carrying bearings the shafts 2 and 3 of the driving rollers 4 and 5.

Shafts 4 and 5 are csonnected to each other via two toothed wheels 6 and 7 of the same diameter and fitted with the same number of teeth so as to have an identical angular speed.

Motion is thereby transmitted to the pair of rollers 4 and Sby the toothed wheel 8, keyed on the shaft 9 of the speed reducing group 10. The driving torque is supplied to said speed reducing group 10 via the shaft 11 and the speed change gear by the electrical motor 13.

The rotation speed of the rollers 4 and is therefore adjustable by handwheel 14 affecting the speed change gear 12.

On the stand 15 of the bedplate 1 there is fastened tension device 1 6, which includes two horizontal tracks, consisting of the guides 17, 17 and 18, 18.

In each of these tracks slides a plate (only one of these is visible in the drawings) designated respectively 19 or 19' which is drilled and integral with a threaded bar 20 and 20', respectively.

In the holes of said plates there is journalled the axis 21 of the roller 22, which may thus be horizontally displaced. Said displacements will be obtained by acting on the nuts 23 and 23, engaging with the threaded bars 20 and 20' referred to above.

In the side extension 24 of the same bedplate 1 there is provided a tension device which is identical to the one described above, having two horizontal tracks 25, 25' and 26, 26' in which slide the drilled plates 27 and 27 (the latter plate being not visible in the figure).

Said plates, in which is journalled the axis 28 of the roller 29, are integral with the threaded bars 30' and 30' whereby the axis 28 may be horizontally displaced by turning the nuts 31 and 31'.

On two further stands 32 and 33, disposed on the bedplate 1 there are journalled the axes 34 and 35 of two rollers 36 and 37.

The axis 34 and therefore the roller 36 may undergo vertical displacements along the oblong openings 38 and 38 provided correspondingly in the two stands 32 and 33.

Two cylinders 39 and 39' are disposed one on one side and the other on the other side of the machine, and connect therebetween the two axes 34 and 35 via the coupling organs 40, 40 and 41, 41'.

The pistons 42 and 42 (the former of which only is visible in FIG. 3) of said cylinders are actuated by one single hydraulic or pneumatic circuit of which in the figure are visible the ducts 43 and 43' for the admission of the control fluid.

In this manner, it is possible to continuously and variably adjust the pressure of the roller 36 on the roller 37. It is noted that the axes of the rollers 4 and 5 are placed on the same vertical line, as that of the rollers 36 and 37; furthermore, the axes of the rollers 22 and 36 like those of the rollers 29 and 37 run parallel and respectively lie over parallel planes. The rollers 4 and 5 are however lower than rollers 22 and 36 and 29 and 32.

All rollers are coated with a suitable slide-proof material, and in particular the rollers 36 and 3-7 are preferably covered with a layer of rubber or Teflon or other material having similar characteristics.

On the rollers 5 and 29 slides the endless belt 44, resting on the upper part on the roller 37; on the rollers 4 and 22 slides the endless belt 45, resting on the upper part on the roller 36 and on the lower part it is sustained by the roller 37.

The belt 44 rests further on the support roller 46 and is subtended by the roller 47, being suitably positioned and secured to the bedplate 1.

Both of these belts may be of any type whatsoever, provided they have rather wide meshes in order to ensure an easy flow of the warm air. A metal net or a belt, consisting of Teflon or cloth or a felt are preferred. The warm air for the treatment of the fabrics flows from a plurality of holes 48 perpendicularly to the belt 44 and corresponding to a plurality of pipes 49, disposed in a box 50.

The warm air, being pushed into pipes 49 by a fan 51 strikes from the low to the high portion of the belt 44 on a length corresponding to the box 50.

Box 50 disposed within the belt 44 and fastened to the f am 1; wanes a suitab e th s. W W??? wi h a high thermic inertia, for example oil, which is heated by a series of electrical resistances 52.

The temperature of the fluid will be thermostatically controlled and adjusted to minimum deviation from the preset rated values.

Each pipe or hose 49, placed in the box 50 and then immersed in the aforementioned fluid, has such a length that the air flowing therein, at the outlet of the pipe itself, has the same temperature as the heaing fluid. In view of the fact that part of the warm air, flowing from the holes 48 of the box 50, is deflected as a result of the impact against the carpet 44 and that due to the bad thermal conductivity of the fabrics and the layer of adhesive means placed therebetween, the adhesive layer itself could be not uniformly heated, the machine according to the present invention is provided with an infra-red ray source 53.

Said infra-red ray source enclosed in turn in a box is placed at the warm air generator 50, above the same and inside the belt 45.

Inside the belt 44, immediately after the pressure rollers 36 and 37 there is placed a fan 54 feeding in cool air. Said fan has a sufiicient width such as to enable the outfiowing air to strike the entire portion of the carpet sliding over it.

The operational method of the instant machine provides for: the coupling of the fabric to be treated with a layer of hempen cloth or support layer, the latter provided with a layer of suitable quality, then the admission of the thus obtained double layer between the carpets 44 and 45, and the automatic start of the continuous coupling process. As may be seen in the figures, belt 44 shows a section not coupled with the upper belt 45, and this is in order to accommodate the fabrics before they are pressed between the two cooperating belts 44 and 45.

The coupled fabric, hempen cloth or support, is then inserted between the two belts of the machine and carried to the box 50, wherein it is struck by a warm air flow. At the same time, the infra-red ray radiator, disposed on the upper part and at the box 50, compensates for any temperature differences between the two layers to be cou pled with each other, irradiating heat on the layers themselves through the carpet 45.

The fabrics are then driven between the pressure rollers 36 and 37 after having been heated at the most convenient temperature to the effect that the adhesive layer, comprised therebetween, effects the best gluing.

The fabrics coupling machine according to the present in'venion may have one or more pairs of rollers opposed each other 55, 56 and 57, fastened to the bedplate 1 and preceding the pair of rollers 36 and 37. Said pairs of rollers aid the coupling of the treated fabrics.

By sliding them between the inclined portions of the belts 44 and 45, the coupled and glued fabrics are struck by a flow of cool air proceeding from the fan 54, which solidifies the layer of adhesive means comprised therebtween. Said process and the inclination taken on by the belts on their end portions is particularly important in the coupling of collars with the reinforcing fabric.

As a matter of fact, if the adhesive layer, at the outlet of the machine, were not fully cooled, then the rollers would have a tendency to bend over, thereby producing a callandering effect. In order to avoid such bending over, the last section of the belt is inclined downwardly so as to compensate for any possible bending over of the collar in the opposite direction.

In the case of manufacturing collars further, the layer of rubber or Teflon covering the surface of both rollers 36 and 37 ensures a compression which is almost uniform over the entire surface of the collars themselves, both in the portions in which the collar is made up of two fabric layers and in the portions in which it is made up of three layers, and this with an apparent advantage in favour of the regularity and uniformity of its structure.

It should be finally stressed that the machine according to this invention is provided with a switch board 58 for the sontrq a d j s ment Qt a r y sa m udes. A y

danger of degrading or polymerization of the adhesive layer is thereby avoided.

Should such circumstance ever occur in fact, then it would involve negative consequences on the quality of the treated fabric, such as the complete impermeabilization or the excessive stiffening of the same.

The fabrics coupling machine according to the present machine ensures further that the fabric and the interlining will be perfectly coupled with each other, inasmuch as the heating of the adhesive layer and the compression on the fabrics is so adjusted that it turns out to be the most suitable according to the type of fabric and adhesive means.

From the foregoing and examination of the various figures on the accompanying drawings it becomes apparent that the fabric coupling machine according to the present invention is characterized by a better operation and practical use.

Needless to say, several changes and modifications as to shape, construction and disposition may be introduced in the machine according to the present invention when putting it into effect, without departing from the scope and very spirit of the invention itself.

What I claim is:

1. A machine for thermic coupling of fabrics in general and collars in particular with a reinforcing interlining, provided with a layer of adhesive means, including in combination upper and lower belt conveyors cooperating with each other, between which the fabrics to be coupled with each other are held in pressed condition and supplied to the various phases of the machine heating means consisting of an infra-red ray source and a warm air flow, first and second pressure rollers over which respectively move said upper and lower belt conveyors, first and second driving rollers for said upper and lower belt conveyors, the speed of which may be varied, disposed in a lowered position relative to said pressure rollers and a cooling means consisting of a fan disposed immediately after said pressure rollers and feeding in cool air to cool the obtained coupled fabric.

2. A machine according to claim 1 in which the warm air flow is pushed by a fan perpendicularly to the lower belt through a plurality of holes corresponding to a plurality of pipes disposed in a box, said box containing a fluid provided with a high thermal inertia and heated by means of a set of electrical resistances, said box being disposed between the lower and upper belts.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which a warm air generator is provided for said warm air flow and the infra-red ray source is disposed at said warm air flow generator on the upper part thereof and inside the upper belt.

4. A machine according to claim 1. in which are provided one or more pairs of supplemental rollers opposite each other preceding the pressure rollers to promote the coupling of the fabrics.

5. A machine according to claim 1 in which the pres sure rollers are coated with rubber or Teflon in order to obtain a uniform compression over the entire surface of the fabric to be coupled.

6. A machine according to claim in which the axes of both pressure rollers are connected to each other and may be brought away or close to each other by circuit means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,385,028 8/1968 Pierce l56583 X 2,405,813 8/1946 Blanchard 117-119.6 3,281,258 10/1966 Callahan 117119.8 X 2,554,988 5/1951 Hollis 151 1,575,366 3/1926 Johnson 388 3,398,016 8/1968 Goldman et al. 117-119.6

ALFRED L. LEAVITT, Primary Examiner C. WESTON, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

